Calculator keyboard cover interlock with a display cover and switch

ABSTRACT

An electronic calculator comprising an input keyboad panel, an output display panel, and first and second cover means mounted for movement between positions covering and positions uncovering the panels. The calculator further comprises a calculator power switch mounted for movement between power-on and power-off positions. Means are provided for setting the power switch in the power-on position when the cover means are moved to their uncovering positions, and for setting the power switch in the power-off position when the cover means are moved to their covering positions. Means are also provide to permit manual movement of the power switch between its power-on and its poweroff positions when the cover means are located in their uncovering positions. means are further provided for inhibitig manual movement of the power switch from its power-off to its power-on position when the cover means are located in their covering positions.

United States Patent [72] Inventor William A. Allen Berkeley, Calif. 21Appl. No. 65,111 [22] Filed Aug. 19, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 23, 1971[73] Assignee SCM Corporation New York, NY.

[ 54] CALCULATOR KEYBOARD COVER INTERLOCK WITH A DISPLAY COVER ANDSWITCH 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 200/50 A, ZOO/61.58, ZOO/61.62, 312/309 [5 I] Int. Cl H01119/22, H0 1 h 3/16 [50] Field of Search 200/50 A, 61.58, 61.62, 61.75,61.7]; 312/223, 309; 74/483 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,800,543 7/1957 Herzog ZOO/61.58 2,921,153 1/1960 Descarries 200/50 ALilli Sikh 3,384,722 5/1968 Hankeetal 3,496,316 2/1970 Foerstner ZOO/50A 200/50 A ABSTRACT: An electronic calculator comprising an inputkeyboad panel, an output display panel, and first and second cover meansmounted for movement between positions cover ing and positionsuncovering the panels. The calculator further comprises a calculatorpower switch mounted for movement between power-on and power-offpositions. Means are provided for setting the power switch in thepower-on position when the cover means are moved to their uncoveringpositions, and for setting the power switch in the power-off positionwhen the cover means are moved to their covering positions. Means arealso provide to permit manual movement of the power switch between itspower-on and its power-off positions when the cover means are located intheir uncovering positions. means are further provided for inhibitigmanual movement of the power switch from its power-off to its poweronposition when the cover means are located in their covering positions.

PATENTEnuuv 2 3 197i FIG.I

sum 1 0F 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A. ALLEN CALCULATOR KEYBOARD COVER INTERLOCK WITH A DISPLAYCOVER AND SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesgenerally to electronic calculators, and particularly to relativelysmall, lightweight electronic calculators or minicalculators" which mayeasily be carried about from place to place by individual users.

Electronic calculators, whether or not portable, ordinarily have both anexternally accessible keyboard for manual inputs and an externallyaccessible and visible display panel for readout of calculated results.Calculators designed to be stationed and operated for long periods oftime in one location frequently have a protective cover which fits overthe keyboard and display panel. When such a calculator is to be used thecover is removed and set aside. Not all stationary electroniccalculators have covers though since the risk of damage to the keyboardand display panel may be slight in view of their permanance of locationand disposition. Indeed, some calculators are built right intoinstrument panels, walls and the like. In such cases covers mainlyfunction as dust shields.

Minicalculators, on the other hand, are designed to be carried aboutfrom place to place in the hands, pockets and hand luggage of individualusers. In such portable dispositions substantial risk exists of damageto externally accessible operative components of the calculator. Thus,the need for protective covers on minicalculators is great. At the sametime however such calculators should preferably remain compact andretain esthetic appeal both with and without their covers. In addition,for manual simplicity and for loss prevention, the cover should remainattached to the calculator in some manner even when positioned toprovide accessibility to the components it protects.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean electronic calculator having an improved cover interlock mechanism.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to providean electronic calculator having an externally accessible keyboard anddisplay panel with protective covers attached to the calculator whichmay be manually positioned so as to cover or expose the keyboard anddisplay panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic calculatorhaving an externally accessible keyboard and luminous display panelwithprotective covers which may be manually located so as to completelycover the keyboard and luminous display panel in one position, and whichmay also be manually located in another position so as to completelyexpose the keyboard and luminous display panel, and to expose the latterin such a manner that it remains, while so exposed and electricallyilluminated, sufficiently shielded from ambient light as to provide goodviewing contrast.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic calculatorhaving an externally accessible keyboard and display panel with aprotective cover thereover which may be moved so as to expose thekeyboard and display panel and in so moving switch on electrical powerto the calculator.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an electroniccalculator having a manually operated power on-ofi switch, an externallyaccessible keyboard and display panel, and protective cover means whichmay be moved from a position covering the keyboard and display panel toa position exposing them and in so moving switch an electric power tothe calculator; and which cover means may also be moved from a positionexposing the keyboard and display panel to a position covering them andin so moving switch off electric power to the calculator and also renderthe power on-ofi' switch incapable of switching on the power to thecalculator when the keyboard and display panel are so covered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention is anelectronic calculator comprising an input keyboard panel, an outputdisplay panel, and first and second cover means mounted for movementbetween positions covering and positions uncovering the panels. Thecalculator further comprises a calculator power switch mounted formovement between power-on and poweroff positions. Means are provided forsetting the power switch in the power-on position when the cover meansare moved to their uncovering positions, and for setting the powerswitch in the power-off position when the cover means are moved to theircovering positions. Means are also provided to permit manual movement ofthe power switch between its power-on and its power-off positions whenthe cover means are located in their uncovering positions. Means arefurther provided for inhibiting manual movement of the power switch fromits power-off to its power-on position when the cover means are locatedin their covering positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anelectronic calculator having a cover interlock mechanism in accordancewith principles of the present invention and in which protective coversare positioned so as to cover the calculator keyboard and display panel.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the calculator shown in FIG. 1 inwhich protective covers are positioned so as to uncover and expose thecalculator keyboard and display panel.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of a preferredembodiment of the cover interlock mechanism having its componentslocated in the relative positionsthey occupy when the calculator coversare positioned in their covering positions as shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of the coverinterlock mechanism shown in FIG. 3 but with its components located inthe relative positions they occupy when the calculator covers arepositioned in their uncovering positions as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5A, SB and 5C are three sequentially positioned fragmentary planviews of selected components of the cover interlock mechanism shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail tothe drawing there is shown in FIG. 1 a relatively small, portable,electronic calculator having a top panel 10, a keyboard cover 11 adaptedto slide over top panel 10, a rotatable covering hood 12, a fixedbattery cover 13, an on-off power switch rocking member 14. Keyboardcover 11 may be manually slid over panel 10 to the position shown inFIG. 2 to expose keyboard 16 which comprises a set of individual keysbearing information indicia as shown. On sliding keyboard cover 11forward over panel 10 hood 12 is caused to be rotated clockwise bylinking means hereinafter described. As an alternative to rotarymovement hood I2 could be mounted for linear movement through the use ofa standard rack and pinion gear assembly.

In the rotated position shown in FIG. 2 hood 12 is so raised as toreveal luminous display panel 17. The display panel comprises a set ofNixie tubes each of which may be energized to radiate a digital lightimage out from hood 12 above the keyboard where it may be observed bythe calculator operator. The presence of hood sideplates l8 restrictsthe entrance of ambient light to the display panel as does the hooditself in this position in order to shade the panel to provide goodluminous contrast for ease of viewing.

In sliding keyboard cover 11 from the close position of FIG. 1 to theopen position of FIG. 2 rocking member 14 is moved to the power onposition. Thus, with one manual movement the calculator keyboard isuncovered, the luminous display panel is also uncovered, and thecalculator power is turned on. In sliding keyboard cover 11 from theopen position of FIG. 2 back to the closed position of FIG. 1 thekeyboard and display panel are covered, the display panel is cleared,and the calculator power turned off. In the open position of FIG. 2on-off power switch rocking member 14 may be manually moved to shut offpower to the calculator. However, the reverse in inhibited when thecover is in the closed position of FIG. 1 in order to prevent accidentalconsumption of power when the calculator is not in a manually operativeposition.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cover interlock mechanism which may be housedwithin the calculator and utilized in achieving the above-describedfunctions in accordance with principles of the present invention.Keyboard cover 11 has two outwardly projecting pins E and F which liewithin a recess in he calculator side frame which recess forms guidetrack 22. A similar pair may be present on the opposite side of thecover, but the description will be given with respect to one side only,for brevity.

Display covering hood 12 is mounted to the calculator frame to rotateabout pivot point 0. Bellcrank 23, which is rotatably mounted to thecalculator frame by pivot pin B, has a recess at one end thereof inwhich resides pin C which projects from hood 12, The opposite end ofbellcrank 23 has an elongated recess forming camlike surfaces 24 of thebellcrank. Pin F is clear oflips 32 of surfaces 24 when keyboard cover11 is located in the position shown in FIG. 1 which corresponds to therelative position of the components of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3.When the keyboard cover is slid along guide track 22 to the positionshown in FIG. 2 pin F will first engage and then move deeper into theelongated recess formed by surfaces 24 of the bellcrank 23 therebycausing the bellcrank to rotate counterclockwise about pivot pin B andbring the interlock mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 4. Thisaction will in turn cause hood 12 to rotate clockwise about pivot pointsince bellcrank 23 engages pin C which projects form the hood. Whenkeyboard cover 11 is returned to the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 3 bymanual movement to the left from it position in FIG. 4, hood 12 will belikewise closed by counterclockwise rotation about pivot point 0.

With continued reference to FIG. 3 the calculator power switch is seento comprise rocking member 14 which may be rocked on pin A to oppositedetented positions and, in doing so, alternately depress and releaseactuator 25 of microswitch 26. To the base of rocking member 14 there isattached a switch arm member 27. From the lower portion of the switcharm member extend upper finger 28 and lower finger 29. Lower finger 29is rigid; however, upper finger 28 is flexible in the direction normalto the drawing.

In the calculator closed condition of FIG. 3 pin D, mounted on hood 12,is seen to reside in a recess between fingers 28 and 29. Rocking member14 is here positioned so as not to depress microswitch actuator 25 whichwould serve to turn on the power onto the electronic calculator. In thiscondition rocking member 14 cannot be rotated counterclockwise to turnpower on since finger 29 would engage pin D, and the leverage is suchthat normal forces will not be sufficient to overcome frictionalresistance. For greater resistance, a cover detent spring could beadded.

When keyboard cover 11 is moved to expose the keyboard, and hood 12 isthereby rotated to expose the display panel, pin D, which is affixed tohood 12 as noted above, engages upper finger 28 causing it and rockingmember 14 to rotate clockwise to depress microswitch actuator 25 andthereby turn calculator power on. At that point pin D escapes the recessbetween fingers 28 and 29 as hood 12 continues to rotate until it hasreached its fully open position. With pin D thus departed, rockingmember 14 may be manually rotated back to the power off position bydepressing the left-hand side, as seen in the drawing, of its uppersurface. When keyboard cover 11 is returned to its closed position hood12 rotates counterclockwise and, if rocking member 14 is still in thepower-on position, pin D engages the end of rigid lower finger 29causing counterclockwise rotation of the rocking member to the power-offposition. Should power have been manually turned off while thecalculator covers were in the open position of FIG. 2 flexible upperfinger 28 will be so located as to intercept pin D. However, as theupper finger is beveled from leading edge 30 tojunction 300, asindicated by the dotted line in the drawing, such movement by pin Dagainst the upper finger causes it to flex in a direction normal to thedrawing thereby permitting pin D to reenter the recess between theswitch fingers as sequentially shown by FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C.

It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is merelyillustrative of applications of the principle of the invention, and thatmany modifications may be made thereto without departure from the spiritand scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

lclaim:

1. An electronic calculator comprising an input keyboard panel, anoutput display panel, first and second cover means mounted for movementbetween positions covering and positions uncovering said panels, acalculator power switch mounted to said calculator for movement betweenpower-on and power-off positions, means for setting said switch in saidpower-on position when said cover means are moved to said uncoveringpositions and for setting said power switch in said power-off positionwhen said cover means are moved to said covering positions, means forpermitting manual movement of said power switch between said power-onand power-off positions when said cover means are located in saiduncovering positions and for inhibiting manual movement of said powerswitch from said power-off to said power-on position when said covermeans are located in said covering positions.

2. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 1 comprisinglinking means connecting said first and second cover means.

3. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidlinking means comprises a bellcrank.

4. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim I wherein saidfirst cover is mounted for substantially planar movement and said secondcover is mounted for rotational movement.

5. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidsecond cover means is mounted for rotation about a first axis andwherein said setting means includes a rocking structure pivotablymounted to the calculator for rotation about a second axis disposedsubstantially parallel to said first axis.

6. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 5 wherein saidpermitting and inhibiting means includes a flexible member affixed toaid pivotably mounted rocking structure.

7. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidsecond cover means is mounted for rotation about a first axis andwherein said permitting and inhibiting means includes a member disposedfor rotational movement about a second axis disposed substantiallyparallel to said first axis.

8. An electronic calculator comprising a rotatably mounted cover havinga projection affixed thereto and an externally accessible power on-offswitch, said power on-off switch comprising a rocking member mounted formovement in a discrete plane of motion, said switch rocking memberhaving a flexible member affixed thereto located adjacent saidprojection with said flexible member being yieldable in directionssubstantially normal to said discrete plane of motion beyond an end ofsaid projection, said flexible member having a leading surface beveledwith respect to said discrete plane of motion and to a surface of saidprojection located adjacent said flexible member.

9. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 8 wherein saidpower on-off switch further comprises a switch actuator located adjacentsaid rocking member in said discrete plane of motion whereby saidactuator may be depressed and released as said rocking member is movedin said discrete plane of motion into and out of contact with saidswitch ac tuator.

10. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 8 wherein saidrocking member has a planar surface disposed substantially normal saiddiscrete plane of motion and said flexible member has a planar surfacealso disposed substantially normal said discrete plane of motion, saidtwo planar surfaces being spaced from one another and locatedsubstantially opposed to and parallel with one another in juxtaposedrelation with said cover projection locatable between said two planarsurfaces by movement of said rotatably mounted cover.

11. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 8 comprisinga-second cover mounted for planar movement and linking means pivotablymounted to the calculator in contact with said rotatably mounted coverand said second cover whereby planar movement of saidsecond cover maycause rotational movement of said rotatably mounted cover.

12. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 11 wherein saidlinking means comprises a bellcrank.

13. An electronic calculator comprising a keyboard, a keyboard cover, avisual display panel, a visual display panel cover;linking means betweensaid keyboard cover and said visual display panel cover to causemovement of said visual display panel cover with respect to said visualdisplay panel upon movement of said keyboard cover with respect to saidkeyboard, and a power on-off switch comprising a pivotable member havinga surface disposed for external. manual accessibility and a flexiblefinger member located adjacent said visual display panel and affixed tosaid pivotable member.

14. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 13 wherein saidvisual display cover and said pivotable member are respectively mountedto said calculator for pivotable movement about twospaced, substantiallyparallel axes.

15. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 14 wherein saidvisual display cover has a projection located adjacent said flexiblefinger member at a distance from the axis about which said visualdisplay cove pivots greater than the distance from which said flexiblefinger member is located from the axis about which said pivotable memberpivots.

16. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 13 wherein saidlinking means is a bellcrank.

1. An electronic calculator comprising an input keyboard panel, anoutput display panel, first and second cover means mounted for movementbetween positions covering and positions uncovering said panels, acalculator power switch mounted to said calculator for movement betweenpower-on and power-off positions, means for setting said switch in saidpower-on position when said cover means are moved to said uncoveringpositions and for setting said power switch in said power-off positionwhen said cover means are moved to said covering positions, means forpermitting manual movement of said power switch between said power-onand power-off positions when said cover means are located in saiduncovering positions and for inhibiting manual movement of said powerswitch from said power-off to said power-on position when said covermeans are located in said covering positions.
 2. An electroniccalculator in accordance with claim 1 comprising linking meansconnecting said first and second cover means.
 3. An electroniccalculator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said linking meanscomprises a bell-crank.
 4. An electronic calculator in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said first cover is mounted for substantially planarmovement and said second cover is mounted for rotational movement.
 5. Anelectronic calculator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondcover means is mounted for rotation about a first axis and wherein saidsetting means includes a rocking structure pivotably mounted to thecalculator for rotation about a second axis disposed substantiallyparallel to said First axis.
 6. An electronic calculator in accordancewith claim 5 wherein said permitting and inhibiting means includes aflexible member affixed to aid pivotably mounted rocking structure. 7.An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondcover means is mounted for rotation about a first axis and wherein saidpermitting and inhibiting means includes a member disposed forrotational movement about a second axis disposed substantially parallelto said first axis.
 8. An electronic calculator comprising a rotatablymounted cover having a projection affixed thereto and an externallyaccessible power on-off switch, said power on-off switch comprising arocking member mounted for movement in a discrete plane of motion, saidswitch rocking member having a flexible member affixed thereto locatedadjacent said projection with said flexible member being yieldable indirections substantially normal to said discrete plane of motion beyondan end of said projection, said flexible member having a leading surfacebeveled with respect to said discrete plane of motion and to a surfaceof said projection located adjacent said flexible member.
 9. Anelectronic calculator in accordance with claim 8 wherein said poweron-off switch further comprises a switch actuator located adjacent saidrocking member in said discrete plane of motion whereby said actuatormay be depressed and released as said rocking member is moved in saiddiscrete plane of motion into and out of contact with said switchactuator.
 10. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 8wherein said rocking member has a planar surface disposed substantiallynormal said discrete plane of motion and said flexible member has aplanar surface also disposed substantially normal said discrete plane ofmotion, said two planar surfaces being spaced from one another andlocated substantially opposed to and parallel with one another injuxtaposed relation with said cover projection locatable between saidtwo planar surfaces by movement of said rotatably mounted cover.
 11. Anelectronic calculator in accordance with claim 8 comprising a secondcover mounted for planar movement and linking means pivotably mounted tothe calculator in contact with said rotatably mounted cover and saidsecond cover whereby planar movement of said second cover may causerotational movement of said rotatably mounted cover.
 12. An electroniccalculator in accordance with claim 11 wherein said linking meanscomprises a bell-crank.
 13. An electronic calculator comprising akeyboard, a keyboard cover, a visual display panel, a visual displaypanel cover, linking means between said keyboard cover and said visualdisplay panel cover to cause movement of said visual display panel coverwith respect to said visual display panel upon movement of said keyboardcover with respect to said keyboard, and a power on-off switchcomprising a pivotable member having a surface disposed for external,manual accessibility and a flexible finger member located adjacent saidvisual display panel and affixed to said pivotable member.
 14. Anelectronic calculator in accordance with claim 13 wherein said visualdisplay cover and said pivotable member are respectively mounted to saidcalculator for pivotable movement about two-spaced, substantiallyparallel axes.
 15. An electronic calculator in accordance with claim 14wherein said visual display cover has a projection located adjacent saidflexible finger member at a distance from the axis about which saidvisual display cove pivots greater than the distance from which saidflexible finger member is located from the axis about which saidpivotable member pivots.
 16. An electronic calculator in accordance withclaim 13 wherein said linking means is a bell-crank.